A Day at the Zoo...

Awwww... Look at my boys at the zoo... and the baby elephant!!!
Checkin out the monkeys... or as Justice calls them... the keys!!!

Lovely weather so we decided to drag the kids in a sled!!!

Shayda and Amber checkin out the animals at the zoo!!!

Exhausted from a long day at the zoo!!!

Check me out... This is Shayda's beautiful Easter dress that her Grandma Sandy got her!!!

Me and Shayd just after church!!!

My neice Miley hangin out with her favorite aunt (me) haha!!!

Shayd and Makinley decided to dress up, and do a dance for me... it was hilarious!!!

Well I know that was picture overload, but we have done so much in march that I figured that I would share it all!!! Well to start off... I had my neice's for a couple of days while my sister went out of town, and they all had so much fun. I decided that since there would be so many girls at my house that we would make a whole bunch of pink food, so we had pink mac and cheese, strawberry shakes, pink punch, pink rice krispie treats, etc. We also did toes and nails, and painted them like easter eggs... it was so much work, and no one had any color on their nails by the time the weekend was over so it was awesome haha!!!

The next weekend was so cold and snowy that Clete and I decided to go for a little ride, and take the kids up 90 per, and drag them on their sled. Shayd had so much fun, and Justice even liked it, but Shayda could only hold him for awhile... he is a hefty kid!!! We also had a little fire up in the mountain to warm up. My hubby is quite the boy scout. He is always doing little things like that with our family! We had a blast!!!

That same weekend Shayda got to wear her new Easter Dress that Grandma Sandy got her, and she looked so dang cute. She was loving it because it was poofy, and she felt like a princess!!! Thanks mom!!!

Last but not least was this last weekend. We decided to go up to the zoo with some friends, and we had so much fun... spent way to much money... ate to much food... but had a blast! We started off the weekend on Saturday early morning, and did a little shopping at AA Callisters. We then checked into our hotel rooms at the little america, and ditched the guys and kids to go Easter shopping at the gateway! It was way to easy to find things for Shayda, but I really struggled to find things for Justice. Clete is so dang picky about what Justice wears, so that makes it difficult. When we were done shoppin, we ate at the texas road house...yummy! We got back to the hotel pretty late so we decided to go swimming in the morning. Unfortunately I got very sick, and was up all night long, but I decided to tough it out, and go swimming anyway. Shayda would have been heartbroken if I didnt. When we were done swimming, we headed to the zoo! It was such nice weather, and the kids were having so much fun! Shayda loved the peacocks, and Justice loved the keys (monkeys)! It was so much fun... but we were so exhausted by the time we got home. WEll that is it for my extremely long life story haha... I hope you enjoy!!!

Valentines, updates, pictures, oh my....

My cute kiddies with my sweet rose...

My sweet hubs... and kiddos on valentines...

Me and my sweeties...

Shayda dressed for preschool...

Me and sissie before preschool

Shayda and Justice on their new four wheeler...

The side view of the new four wheeler...

I thought i would share some pics of my fun valentines weekend, and a few new pics. The last couple pics are of my cute kiddies on their new four wheeler that we got them for their birthdays. I knew that Shayda would be the perfect size to ride the four wheeler, and take her brother for an occasional ride with her. They have so much fun riding it. Shayda even took it for a ride to Jenna's house to tell Kaden goodbye since she didnt tell him at preschool... by the way Jenna's house is about a mile and a half away from mine so that is pretty far away for a little girl on a four wheeler haha. Don't worry... because her dad went and got her before she got to far away... gotta love that girl!!!

Valentines day was so much fun... we decided to take our family and stay at the little america hotel!!! We ate at the Mcgraths Fish house, and found out that Shayda loves any type of fish including her dads crab legs haha. We decided to go swimming at the hotel, and it was so fun... the water was incredibly warm so my kids were loving it! After a long day of shopping, eating, swimming and more, we decided to go back to the room and go to bed... and after the kids went to sleep i got my gift... dont worry its not x rated haha... we had gotten the valentines package with our room which came with a rose, present, champagne glasses, apple cider, truffles, and a movie that is still in theatres. We... well especially I.... got to watch New Moon again... in my hotel room with my apple cider, and my treats, and my sweet hubby by my side!!!! Not much more you can ask for right???? We had so much fun!!!! HINT HINT CLETE... lets do it more often!!! Oh my gosh I cant tell you how much i needed the break... we had a blast!!! Love you my sweet Family!!!

It's my party...

My version of "The princess & the frog cakes"
Justice eating his cake

Blowing out candles

Shayda opening presents

Justice opening presents

The big slide

Sitting in the bounce house... I am normally behind the camera, but someone got me from behind!

The party




We decided to do a double "Princess & the frog" birthday party for Shayda and Justice since their birthdays are both in January! Shayda turned 4 years old on January 12th, and Justice turned 1 year old on January 21st... Yes my baby is one now :( We had a big blow out! We had a big slide, and a bounce house. Even the adults could use them... it was so fun! WE had a pinata, and lots of fun princess things. Clete made chilli, and it was so good, and my mom made some breadsticks and cookies, and I made the cakes. We had tons of friends that came, and my kids got so many gifts! Thanks to all my friends and family that came to the party, and to Mike for getting the town hall, and cleaning up after us... he was so much help! I can't believe how much fun we had... I might have to do it again! I did make the cakes, but don't judge me for them haha because I only had a couple of hours, so they were in rough shape... the frog looked a little like E.T haha. Happy birthday to my two sweet babies!!!

My husband... My hero

These last couple of days have been extremely hard on our family, and many others as well. I was awaken around 2a.m. by Clete's cell phone ringing. He answered it, and was told the devistating news about our friend, and Clete's fellow deputy Josie. He was then told to get out on the road to search for the killer. I was scared to death, and as you can imagine did not sleep after that. I felt like I was in shock, how could this happen in our small communitie, and to one of my friends. And on top of that I was supposed to allow my husband to go out to risk his life to find this guy... this guy that just killed a cop... a guy that now had nothing to lose. I sat up praying that there was a mistake, and that Josie would be ok, and that Clete would return home safetly. I can't tell you how sorry I am for this brave womans family... I am just sick about it... and possibly still in shock. Josie was one of my friends whom I babysat for growing up. I babysat Hunter until she was three years old when they moved away. When she moved back, and became a deputy, I remember thinking that she was the perfect woman for the job. She was always so strong, and so brave. Josie... you will be missed! Your death will not be in vain...
I just have to say that sometimes we take things for granted. We believe that something like this would never happen to us. We think our little town is so safe, and that our husbands or wives will return home safetly every day. I for one was one of these people. My husband is my hero because he risks his life every day for all of us who are sleeping so soundly because of them. I get so tired of hereing how people hate the cops because they pulled them over. No one ever thanks them for keeping them safe, and risking their lives. These deputies all have families that they have to come home to. It is just heartbreaking that something this tragic had to happen for us to remember this. I am so appreciative of all of my friends who have kept Clete, and the many other deputies in their prayers over the past couple of days. We have recieved multiple calls, emails, etc. from our wonderful friends. Without these deputies it would be a scary world... so remember to thank them for their service. As my sister said... My husband, and my brother Jordon are fighting for us everyday... maybe in different ways, but they are both Hero's in my mind. I love you Clete! Please keep all of the deputies, and the family of Josie in your prayers... they need them.
Sorry for such a rant, but I am just feeling so much saddness right now, and I just had to let it all out.

Merry Christmas!

I took these pictures myself, so the quality is not great, but the kids are darn cute! Like always, I am behind on everything, so I needed to get my cards ordered, and of course I didn't have up to date pictures, so I did it myself. If you don't get a card, t Ihen I am sorry, but Merry Christmas just the same!

I guess I could update you on a few things while I am here haha! I have just been crazy busy with everything! You know what they say, "The jack of all trades, and master of none". Well, that explains me to a T! I have 50 jobs, and it seems like they are never finished. I don't know why I do it to myself, because one or two jobs would probably sufice, but I am a sucker. I have been really busy with my cakes, so I will add some pics to my cake blog. I have also been surprisingly busy with real estate which is so great because if I could get a couple of nice checks, then I can get my house addition payment reduced by alot, and who wouldn't love that haha! Oh ya, we have been working on building on to our house, and it has been nothing but a pain. We have been trying to get the plans done for months now. Hopefully we can get started once it warms up because we have grown right out of our house.

Last but not least, I have a great funny story about Shayda. I was at wal-mart getting a few finishing touches to my christmas shopping, and I notice that my cart is getting full fast, and I am thinking that it is going to cost me a fortune at this point. I obviously was not paying a whole lot of attention to Shayda other than yelling at her to quit wandering off, and I look down and notice a cake pan in my cart. So I thought, I did not put that in there, so I get looking, and there were all kinds of things such as movies, dress up crowns, chapstick, etc. probably about ten things that she had added to my cart. I thought I was going to die laughing because not only had she done what most kids do to their parents without their knowledge, but she put a cake pan of all things in the cart. I thought that maybe she had just put it there because she just liked helping me out, but later I heard her telling Clete that she got this cool thing to bake a cake for her dad! What a cute girl! Anyways thats all for me, so Merry Christmas to all of you!

HELP...

My cute kids in front of my harvest decorations...haha
My kids Tinkerbell... and the lost boy skunk...at the church party!

All the girls in my family & a couple of the grandkids... I am the oldest ugh!

My newest nephew Ty

Just a flag inspiration that someone painted near oak city...

As many of you know... My little brother Jordon is in Iraq serving our country! I am trying so hard to think of something to send him for christmas... I have made a ton of baked goods that I am sending him... but I need more ideas before November 13th, because that is the date it needs to be sent out to make it by Christmas... but (preferably before the 10th because I am having a dumb surgery that will have me out of commission for a couple of days haha) I really need help,I want to send him something really great, but there are restrictions, and I just don't know what you send someone that is fighting a war??? Help... I also wanted to tell you about a few other things that have been going on in my life... I now have a new beautiful nephew born to my sister in law Lacey, and her sweet new fiance Cory... His name is Ty, and he was born on Oct. 26th, and he weighed 8 lbs 6 oz. wow lacey you are a tough woman, and your baby is such a doll! ( I think he looks like me hahahahaha) Anyways... I also wanted to mention my sweet, best, wonderful, perfect, MOTHERS 49th birthday (yes, she is really 49) She has always looked so young, and she has always been the best mom ever... if you want to know the definition of a good... check out my sweet mom! She is the best, and I love her so so so much! Happy Birthday Mom... I love you! Last but not least are my sweet babies on Halloween... Shayda really wanted to be Tinkerbell... so I made some of her outfit... and my sis borrowed me the rest ( thanks sis) and Justice was the lost boy skunk... and he got so many compliments on his outfit... he loves hats, but not usually to wear them, but he loved his skunk hat haha! I also wanted to give a shout out to my mom who made my scarecrow in my front yard more than ten years ago... what a woman!!! Love you mom. I really need help with my gift for my brother, so please please please help me find something that he would love asap!

Happenings...

Kelly Bennett photograph
Another gorgeous pic from 1st day of preschool

7 month old pic

Darling baby boy

My two little dolls

My mom and her screaming grandkids haha

Me and my little sis Shantel...

I know that this post is going to be an over load of information, but I get so much crap for not posting very often so here it goes. First things first... I should give an update on my last post about Shayda, and Jordon. Shayda's surgery went so well... she was such a big girl, and did not even cry or get sick. It was like she just went to sleep, and then woke up happy (that doesn't happen very often haha). The tests were negative which is so good, but now I am not sure what to do about it. Jordon is now in Kuwait... We have talked to him every two to three days, and he seems like he is doing really well. Keep him in your prayers for me!

We went to the pumpkin patch at the red barn with my mom, and my sisters and sister in law. I put a pic of my mom and her screaming grandkids... so funny. I also added a pic of my little sis Shantel who is now in college leaving my parents empty nesters...sad! We have also been to the zoo with some good friends of ours, and stayed in Salt Lake at a really nice hotel... it was great. I don't have pics because I forgot my camera so I had to use a disposable.

I really have had so much going on, but now my mind is blanking so last but not least... I got Justice's pics done a couple of months ago at kiddie kandids because while we were at the mall getting new glasses for Clete, a girl at kiddie kandids asked me if I would let her take pics of my kids for free, and they would give me a free 5x7... so of course I said yes. My kids were not dressed the way I would have liked, but it worked out, and they turned out so cute! I was feeling pretty bad about not getting any pics of Shayda. Luckily, the very next day Shayda started her first day of preschool, and my friend Kelly Bennett took some beautiful pictures of her. I still can't believe how old she is getting. We are doing a mom's preschool, and it is going good. It is definately harder than I thought it would be but Shayda really is learning alot. To check out more pics of preschool go to kellybennettphotography.com. Anyways I am sure that there will be more to come in this crazy life of mine so keep checking. I will also be adding new cakes to my cake blog so check it out as well..